Tropical Cyclone Violet

3 - 6 March 1995

Summary

Tropical cyclone Violet was a large system that remained over water in the Coral Sea throughout its life-time. A tropical low near 13.5°s 153.5°E began to deepen early on 2 March and move south-southwest-wards. The low deepened further and was named tropical cyclone Violet at 0600 UTC on 3 March near 16.0°S 152.5°E. The cyclone turned towards the south-south-east and accelerated, continuing to intensify until its peak intensity (estimated mean winds 42 rnls, central pressure 960 hPa) was reached at 1200 UTC 5 March near 22.2"s 158.I0E. Violet weakened slightly but maintained hurricane intensity as it turned south-south-westward then west-southwestward late on 6 March. At this time the cyclone was beginning a transition into a deep extratropical low with estimated mean winds of 28 rn/s and central pressure about 980 hPa.

The low continued to weaken slowly and move further westward, approaching within 50 km of the Australian coast off northern New South Wales at 1200 UTC 7 March. The system turned northeast away from the coast and continued around a loop towards the southeast before dissipating around 0000 UTC 8 March near 29.2°S 155.1°E. There were no reports of casualties and the only damage reported was beach erosion at Lord Howe Island and in northern New South Wales. Power supplies on Lord Howe Island were interrupted when water damaged a transformer the strongest wind gust recorded on the island prior to power failure was 34 m/s at 1246 UTC, 6 March.